Australia: Soft-turf experience may give Savvy Valentino an edge at Royal Randwick

A win on a soft turf course at Gosford Racecourse in Australia on Feb. 24 may provide vital experience for the 4-year-old gelding Savvy Valentino in a handicap at 1 1/2 miles on the Kensington course at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Thursday.

The turf course on the Kensington course was listed as heavy on Tuesday, with conditions unlikely to significantly improve. Torrential rain in and around Sydney, Australia, has led to widespread flooding and made international news. Several race programs in Australia have been canceled because of excessive rain in the last week.

Savvy Valentino won consecutive starts in marathon turf races in late February and early March in Australia, the first time the 4-year-old gelding had put together a winning streak in his 24-race career.

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The Gosford win was followed by a nose victory in a handicap at 1 1/2 miles at Kembla Grange Racecourse on March 12. In both wins, Savvy Valentino closed from off the pace to grab the lead in the final strides.

Thursday’s race at Kensington drew a field of 10. Savvy Valentino, trained by Bjorn Baker, is likely to be the third choice in the betting behind Shangani Patrol and California Longbow.

Shangani Patrol, the expected favorite, has won 5 of 44 starts, but is winless in six starts since a victory in a handicap at 1 1/2 miles on heavy turf at Warwick Farm Racecourse last June. On March 3, Shangani Patrol set the pace in a handicap at 1 3/8 miles on good turf at Warwick Farm at 50-1 and was beaten a head.

California Longbow takes a noticeable drop in class, having finished seventh of 14 in the listed Canberra Cup at 1 1/4 miles on soft turf at Canberra Racecourse on March 8. California Longbow won a handicap at 1 3/16 miles at Canterbury Park on Feb. 12 after setting the pace, although the 5-year-old gelding does not typically display that style.

The handicap at 1 1/2 miles is the fifth of eight races on a Kensington program that begins at 10:15 p.m. Eastern, or 7:15 p.m. Pacific, on Wednesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.